It was his love for fitness that made him step on stage for the first time this past June. It was his perseverance that has allowed him to rise in the industry at an exponential rate. While most will agree Fitness Model Obi Obadike is new to the industry, the amount he has accomplished within that time has been nothing less than extraordinary!

His path into the fitness scene was a debatable one. Having been involved in track most of his life, Obadike focused intently on becoming just that?an elite track athlete. And while he broke school records in the 100 and 200-metre runs at Cal State University of Fullerton in Southern California, his repeated hamstring injuries prevented him from competing in the 2000 Olympic trials. This forced Obadike to look in other directions. He proceeded to enter the world of sports modelling.
To date, Obadike has been in over eight national sports commercials and in over 15 national sports ad campaigns. His most notable commercial was the famous Gatorade Commercial called the "The Winning Formula". Not only was this commercial considered one of the greatest Gatorade ads, Obadike beat out over 100 athletes and fitness models to attain a spot in it!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DHTC1K6mD8

After having over a decade of success as a sports model, Obadike felt a desire to make his mark in the fitness industry. He noticed various covers of fitness magazines showing off chiselled physiques and offering exercise tips. What he also noticed, however, was that there was a minute amount of fitness models that were African American. Right then his mind was set?show the world that not only can he get a winning physique but he can also defy the norm set forth by magazines!

He sought the advice of fitness legend Clark Bartram on how to attain success in fitness modelling. It was Bartram?s mentoring and confidence that helped give Obadike the motivation and energy to believe he could succeed.

He began his training in March and stepped on stage in June at the FAME World Championships placing runner up in the Pro-Fitness Model Division. Obadike then went on to compete at the WBFF Show in Mississauga, Ontario where he was the strong contender to win the fitness model World title this past September but due to flight complications missed prejudging and, therefore, missed his chance for a placing.

Despite this obstacle, Obadike has accomplished things most fitness competitors could only do after numerous years in the industry. In only 7 months his passion and persistence has led him to:

--Grace the covers of not one, but two, fitness covers!
--Be interviewed on the Greg Mantell Talk Show twice this year!
http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7qGvm05swQ
--Be named the most ripped fitness model and athlete in the planet by Critical Bench.com where he has a big interview in regards to this honour at the start of Jan of 09.
--Be the first African-American male fitness model to be in an international supplement ad for Dymatize Nutrition

--Be the Bodybuilding.com wallpaper of the week
--Be interviewed on the Big Nation Radio
--Be included in the first African-American male and female fitness model couple on a U.S. fitness cover for Max Sports and Fitness (Sept issue)

--Be included in the first African-American male and female fitness model couple on a Canadian fitness cover for Inside Fitness (Next Month's issue)

While Obadike says genetics do play a part in the fitness scene, working out and eating right is critical for success, as is great stage presence and an ability to show off your unique personality.

Obadike says although he has worked very hard this year, he believes that success cannot be attained by just one person. "You can't do it alone and many good people have been influential in my success such as Paul Dillett, the former IFBB great Pro-Bodybuilder and President of the WBFF.

"The WBFF is such a great organization that is really revolutionalizing the fitness and bodybuilding industry. I will always be grateful to Paul Dillett and the WBFF who were influential in helping me attain my second fitness cover."

Obadike not only has a physique that will make your mouth drop, his personality will make your heart melt. His genuine love for fitness is evident as a featured writer for www.clarkbartram.com where he offers free fitness video blogs and articles to the public. He says it?s an opportunity to help give back to the community while educating people on how to stay fit and eat right.

http://www.clarkbartram.com/video/sprinting-obi-obadike

Education is something that Obadike isn't lacking as he has a B.A. Degree in Communications, B.S. Degree in Computer Networking in which he graduated with honors. He is two months away from finishing his Masters Degree in which he hopes to graduate with honors in Information Systems.

?You can have great abs, a great face, money in the bank and all the knowledge in the world but if you don?t have the ability to use that to help somebody then it means absolutely nothing.?

Obadike also hopes to help revolutionize the fitness industry by using his success as a catalyst to help aid in more diversity on fitness covers. He wants to be the person that can help create opportunities for African-American fitness models and other minorities that have aspirations to be on a fitness cover but may be discouraged from doing so.

?Believe in yourself. Don?t let anyone tell you that you can?t do it.?

It?s a motto that has definitely worked for this fitness model. He showed the world that while he may not have fit into the stereotypical norm in the fitness modelling industry, sometimes it?s better to create your own path and let the world follow you. And that is what we will be doing, following an athlete who is sure to set the path for continued success with his future endeavours!

His next stop?.the MVP Quest in Hamilton, Ontario November 22nd for the title of the Ultimate Fitness Champion.